Cable equalizer



Aug. 21 1923. 1,465,705

E. E. WRIGHT CABLE EQUALIZER Filed Feb. 28. 1921 2 Shuts- Sheet 1 j EDWARD E. Wmewr v Aug. '21, 1923.

2 sheo tsv-s heet 2 EDWARD i n me;

E E WRIGHT CABLE E UALIZER Filed Feb. 28. '1921- v w un V iv wv ,4. M 3/ f r To aZl whom it may concern."

Patented Aug. El, 1923.

iini 'ran stares.

EDWARD E. WRIGHT, OF BETH-GIT, MIGEIGAN.

cABLE QUALIZER;

.Applicationfiled February 2a; 1921. seriaiiv iiaevs.

Be it knownthat I, EDWARD E. WRIGHT, a citizen of the United States, residing at 645 Calvert Avenue, Detroit, in the county of Wayne and Stateof Michigan, have'in- I vented a certain new and useful Improvement in Cable Equalizers, of which the fol lowing is a'specification.

My invention relates-to equalize'rs for elevators, and an object f the invention is to provide means for equalizing the tension on the various-ropes even though they be of considerable number. Another object is to provide an equalizer so constructed that the adjacent rope ends may lee-spaced closely together. The overhead sheaves of-rope suspended elevators normally have their grooves located close together, and it is evident'that if the rope ends at'the suspended car are widely spread they will not run true but will press with greater 'force against one side of the groove, and hence, will be subjected to excessive wear and will oroduce an excessive amount of friction. As the result of my invention the ropes may be spaced so closely togetherthat they will lie practically,"if not actually in the planes of the respective grooves.

I accomplish my objects'by -the'mec ha-' L nism illustrated in the accompanying drawin gs in which Figure -1'is aside elevation of the chief,

I operating parts of the equalizer, the view being taken on the line 1 1, Figure 2. V

Figure 2 is a plan section on the line 2-2, Figure 1;

Figure 0 operating parts, the viewbelng taken ust inside of the. I-beam which in the present design forms one of the supporting beams ofthecar.

Figure 4: is a sectional elevation on the line 4L4l Figurel.

Figure 5 is a sectional detailon the line, 55, Figure 6.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the groups of hell cranks and their con necting links and levers.

Like numerals denotelike parts thruout' the several views.

The beam which supports the elevator car. may be varied in design, but in the present case consists of two parallel I-beams l spaced a short distance apart to partially ienclose the equalizing mechanisms between them. Beneath-these beams are, fastened 1S1? side elevation of the chief brackets. 2 throug'h which pass fheavy bolts 1'21 3 designed to carry thejweight of' thei-car.

Said bolts pass through two pairs of strap f Q apart and fastened to a flat, bar 6 located plates 4, the platesfof each pair beingspaced between h 7 best shown inFig11res 2- al'ld- The are f te d\tqg er shown in Figuresl and '3. The planes of V by rivets =81 or other appropriate means I the bars 6 are vertical, and the:bar s extend for a' considerable distance horizontallyin both directions from the straps 4. Atlth'eir" ends are fastened heavy pinsIO which extend from one beam to the other and form fulcrums for levers "12 which'for' identifica- 'tion may be referred t asthe ".primary levers. These will be-ag'ain referred to.

Near the upper end of each pair of straps. I

, for an oscillating lever 15. There are thus 1 two of these levers which are arranged l is a heavy pin 14 which forms a fulcrum parallel "to each other at opposite sides of the device. Two fulcrum shafts 16 are mounted in the levers 15, on opposite sides of the fulcrum l these shafts extending fulcrums for the bell cranks 1.8, :19,"f20.

Said bell cranks arein the form of plates arranged vertically, in pairs, the plates of a pair being separated by spacers 22 best from one lever to the other and forming shown in Figures 1 and 2.; Each pair'ot plates constituting the respective bell crankshas mounted min-approximately on aflevel with the fulcrum shaft 16,. a pin '24 whichforms a pivotal connection to an eye bar 26., These 'barsare arranged vertically with their eyes at the upper end tori receiving shackle bolts 28 by which they arepivotally'connected to rope sockets 30.

Thes'erope sockets ,or shackles' or beckets I may assume. diiierent. forms, the essentlal. idearbeing that they are fastened to the re.

spective ropes at one end and to the bell cranks at the other end, and it'is in this rope sockets sense that I employ theterm inthe appended claims.

At the lower end] f the. bell cranks are i 7 pins 32 which form pivotal connections for to the upper. end of the. primary lever 12 by a pin 36; The link :34 is connected by a pin 371'to the upperlend of aseconda ry.

lever 38. I pin 40 to the lowerend of lever 38. Be-

balancing effect as between the two groups.

MAS the plates which form the bell cranks are arranged vertically, they can be and are placed closely together, thus making it possible to bringthe rope sockets closer together so that the ropes may come in the plane .or ne'ir respective grooves in the overexpedient, 'vizf:

head sheave. lnotherwords, the planes of the eye-bar's 26 are spaced closer together, two bars to a plane, as best shownin Figure 2. Furthermore the eye bars when viewed in plan, as in FigureQ, are arranged in echelon, or offset relation, the result being hat the centers ofthe rope sockets are offset from eachother and hence may be brought closer together than if they were arranged in straight longitudinal and transverse rows; for it will be understood that the diameter of a rope socket is necessarily considerably greater than the diameter of its rope and the sockets would interfere with each other if arranged closely in rows at right angles to each other. i This oblique or staggered arrangement of the eye bars, rope sockets and ropes is made possible by a novel The making of the bell cranks in graded lengths. To illustrate, the arms of the bell crank arm 20 are longer than those of the bell crank 19, and the arms of the bell crank 19 are longerthanthose of the; bell crank 18. Furthermore, the bell crank 18, whose arms are shortest, lies in thesame plane as the bell crank 20 whose armsare longest, while the center be l cranks l9 wl1ich lie bet-ween the two outer ones, are of equal length. To stiill further'reduce the horizontal area occupied by the group of rope sockets, it is desirable that the eye bars of some of them be longer than the eye bars of the others, as best illustrated in Figures 1 and 4. Thus in the construction shown the eye bars ,are of different lengths thus bringing the sockets at difi'erent elevations; and the bell cranks are of different lengths, arranged with a short crank in the plane of a long oneand vice versa.

The operation will now be readily understood, Due to unequal stretching of the ropes, or, for other causes, well known to those familiar with this class of mechanism, there would be a tendency for the ropes to exert different degrees of tension upon the car beam in case they were all rigidly fas-.

raeavo thus e utilizin the tension of all the r0 es in that group. The tension between thetwo groups, asgroupjs, that is, the tension of the two groups will be equalized through the medium of theoscillating bea=m15 which is adapted to rotate through a limited arozin either direction about the fixed fulcrums 14. Consequently the tension of all of the ropes is equalisedand; as before stated, the ropes themselves may be and are compactly grouped together so that they may run-true upon their sheaves.

It will be understood'that, viewed in its broadest aspect, the invention is not limited to bell cranks specifically, for bell cranks are simply lovers of a special type having a,

work arm and, a power; arm, as in? other levers, and it is not essential in the broadest Having thus described my invention, what I l claim-as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1s: 1 1.7 A rope equalizer for of bell cranks, and a rope socket'connected to each bell crank, one of "said bell cranks:

being connected to one end of said lever. and

another of said bellcranks being connected to the other end of said lever, said cranks, being in the form of plates arranged in par-'- planes, whereby they may be allel vertical closely spaced.

2. A rope equalizer for elevators compris ing a fulcrum fixed 'tothe suspended object.

bell cranks, a primary lever pivoted on said. fulcrum, a secondary lever fulcrumed upon one end of the primary lever, the other end of the primary lever being connected to one of the bell cranks and the secondary lever being connected at its ends to others of the bell'cranks, and means for connecting the individual bell cranks to theelevator cables.

3. A rope equalizer for elevators comprisa fulcrum fixed to the suspended object, bell cranks consisting of parallel plates arranged vertically and adapted to be inch-- elevators comprismg a fulcrum fixed to the suspended Ob]()'b,: lever pivoted onsaid fulcrum, a plurality and power arms difi'er from 90 V vidually connected to the elevator cables,a primary lever pivoted on- SZl-lflfiXGQl fulcrum,

one end of said lever being connected to one of said bell cranks, a secondary lever connected to the other end of the primary lever at apoint between theends of he secondary lever, the secondary leverybeing connected at opposite ends to two others of the bell cranks. I

4:. A rope equalizer for elevators comprising a fulcrum fixed to the suspended object, bell cranks consisting of ,parallel plates arrangedvertically and adapted to be indi vidually connected to vthe elevator cables, primary lever pivoted on said fixed fulcrum,

a link-connectingone end of said lever to onebell cranks consisting of parallel plates ar ranged vertically and adapted to be individuallyconnected to the elevator-cables, a

primary lever pivoted on said fixed fulcrum,

alink connecting one end of said lever to one of sald bell cranks, a'second link connected to the other end of said primary le- 4 ver. a secondary lever connected between its ends to the, second link, the secondary lever being connected at its ends to two others of the bell cranks, and a shaft upon which all of said'b'ell cranks are fulcrume'd', said shaft being connected tosaidususpended object.

6. A ropev equalizer for elvators'comprising-a plurality of groups of zrope sockets; plurality .ofwgroups of hell cranks, one for each ofasaid sockets, means for equalizing the tension of the individual sockets-onltheir respective bell cranks, and means for. equalizing the tension on the two "groups 'of sockets. 7.-A rope-equalizer for elevators comprispluralityof groups of'bell cranks, onefor each of said socketsrmeans for equalizing the tension. of. the indlvidual sockets on their respective.bellficranks, an oscillating beam havinga fulcrum shaft fastened to thesuspended object, saidbeam carrying the fulcrums of the bell cranks on opposite sides of said shaft for ecpializing the tension of the two groups.

'8. A rope equalizer for elevators coinprising an oscillatingbeam pivotally fastened to the suspended object, and two-groups of elements connected to the opposite ends of said beam whereby the tension of said groups isequalized, each group of elements comprising a fixed fulcrum fastened to the suspended object, a lever pivoted on said fulcrum, a plurality of hell cranks, and a mg a plurality of. groups of ropesoc'kets, a

rope socket connected to each bell crank, one

of said bell cranks-being connected to one end of said lever and another of said hell cranks being connected tothe other end of said lever, the fulcrums of the-bell cranks being carried by said beam on opposite sides of the pivotalsupport thereof.

9. A'rope equalizer for elevators comprising an oscillating beanrpivotally'fastened to the suspended object, and two-groups of elements connected tot-he opposite ends of i said beam' whereby the tension of said groups s equalized, each'group of elements comprising a fixed fulcrum fastened-to the suspendedobject, bell cranks consisting of parallel plates arranged vertically and adapted to be individually connected to the elevator ropes, a primary lever pivoted on said fixed fulcrum, a link connecting oneend of said lever-to one of said bell cranks, asecond link connected to the other end of its ends to two others of the bellcranks, and the bell cranks being pivotally supported upon the beam on opposite sides of the support thereof. I p

10. Equalizing mechanism for theiropes of elevators, said mechanism having a plurality of levers arranged iniclose proximity in parallel vertical planes,- rope sockets attached to one end of each of said levers, and

means attachedto the other end of each of said levers for interconnecting them and eq ah'zing the tension of the .rop'efsockets I upon said levers, said levers being, in the form of vertically arranged plates and all of them being fulcrumed about a common axis.

11. Asropelequalizer for elevators having two groups of-levers, each group-consisting of a plurality of plates arrang'edin close proximity in-- parallel vertical planes, rope sockets attached to the innerend of the individual levers, and means attached ito the outer endof the individuallevers of each group for intermnnectmg them and equalizing the tension of the rope so cketsthereon, an oscillatingbeam having an axis; fined relatively to thesuspended car, and ful'crums carried by said beam on opposite .sidesof;

said primary lever, and a secondary lever {connected between its ends to the second l1nk, the secondary lever beingconnected at said axis for ivotall I sue ortin all-ofthe levers of a group.

12. A' rope equalizer for elevators having; levers arranged parallel to each oti'ier and co-aXial and adapted to rotate in --vertical planes, rope sockets pivotally connected'to the power arms of said levers, and equaliz v ing mechanism pivoted to. the oppositeendsi of said'levers, the power arms of said levers being graded in length to enable the rope w sockets to be b-rought'into a small space transverse to the planes of the levers.

13. A rope equalizer for elevators having levers arranged parallel to each other and adapted to rotate in ve tical' planes, bars pivotally attached to the power arms oi said levers, rope sockets fastened to the upper.

- roup being rotatable about a common horizontal "axis, ropesoclrcts connect d lo the POWEZ arms oi. said levers, equalizingmechanism connected to theoth r end of levers, and an oscilla'i JEWOVQZ arms of the levers era single group be: eroded in lenvth, l along lever of one up being arrang the same plane and opposite to the short lever group, and vice versa. I 7

15. An equalizing: device for coi" beam ivhcreon the.

cables and a dram head com uisin'ggroups of bell-crank levers having arms extending; toward a common cent-er, means for connect ing' such arms to cables, and means for connecting the other arms or" the ,evcrs of both groups in such manner that the stresses of Q the several arms are'ba'lanced against each other and the stress in the levers of one group oppose'thc stresses in the levers of t 19 other group.

'16. A draft head comprising parr illel spaced pivot members, a plurality of hellcranlr levers having arms or" diilerent lengths extending horizontally toward the center from both A ivct members, means for attaching a cable'to each arm. and means ror movably connecting the other arms of said bell-cranlrlevers to cause an equal distribution or" the load to the several cables.

17. Adrar't head comprising fixed spaced pivot members, a plurality or" levers on each pivot member having: arms which extand toward a com ion center andare adap be connected to cables, and connections between said levers arranged to maintain equal the tensions of the several cables.

18. In an equalizing? device, in combination three levers or" different lengths mounted on a fixed pivot ano adapted to beconnected to cables and equalizing lever connections arranged to cause upward moveeach oups oi levers are mounted, the'poiver of r the other Y ment of one lever to produce such dowir relapivot having cable attaching arms of different lengths extending toward a common enter, a floating member, connections between each group of levers and the floating member comprising links" and levers arranged totransmit equal forces from each of the several levers of the group to the floating member. i l f 20.1lnequalizing device for connecting cables a'nda'dralt head comprising groups of bell-crank levers having arms extended toward a common center, means for con nccting such arms to cables, means for corn nectin'g the other arms of the lovers of each group insuch manner thatl'he stressesof the several arms are balanced against each other, andineansjior balancing tho collectivo stresses in the levers of one group against the collective stresses of the levers of the other group.

21 A draft head,

with respect to a commoncenter, balancing means for the pivot members carried by the draft head, a. plur lily of bell-crank levers having armsl of different lengths extending horizontally toward the center from each pivot member, means for attaching a cable to each arm, and means for'connecting the other arms of the bell-crank levers to cause equal distribution f the load to'the several cables in each group.

tain equal tension or" the several cables.

23. in an equalizin'g device, threeklevers:

erent lengths mounted on a; common pivot and adapted to be connected to cables,

Of (lli and equalizing; lover connections arranged to cause upward movement of one lever to produce such downward movementof one or both ofthe other levers that the sum of the downward movement will be equal'to the upward movement of the first lever.

pivot members spaced 24; A rope equalizer for elevators having levers arranged parallel to eachother and adapted to rotate'in vertical planes, rope sockets pivotally connected to the power' arms of said levers, and equalizing mecha nism ui oted to the opposite ends of said 1 vers, the power arms ofsaid levers being grad d in length to enable the rope sockets tobe brought into a small spacetransverse t0 the planes of the levers.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

EDWARD n. WRIGHT. 

